Carcass-splitting machine



March 8, 1927. x 1,620,035

A. HT PAxToN CARCASS SPLITTING MACHINE ai# Pd/x Z277/ A TTORNEY.

Afl-i. PAxToN CARCASS SPLITTING MACHINE March 8, 1927.. 1,620,035

Filed Agg. 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

March la, 19.27. 135210,035y

A. H.k PAXTON cARcAss SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21. 1925 4 sheep-sheen INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 8; 1927. 1,620,035

A. H.'PAxToN CARCASS SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Aug- 21. 192ey 4 Sheets-sheet 4 31a/uente@ movement or'stopped as desired.

Patented Mar. 81, 1927.

U NITE!) STATES ARTI-IUE I-I. PAXTON`, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

GARCASS-SPLTTING MAGINE.

Application ledAugust 21, 1926. Serial No. 130,691.

A further object is to mountthe splitting machine on a trackway and toprovidel said splitting machine with a pivoted beam forminga saw carriage, and whichpivoted beam at its outer endis provided with a splitting elementand means for moving said Vbeam upwardly and downwardly whereby the splitting element will move in substantially -a straight line. i Also to provide carcass engaging arms for holding `the carcass during a splitting operation whereby the carcass and the splitting machine will be main-' tained in proper relation during the move.

ment thereof.

A further object is to provide vthe machine with `a motor having driving. connectionsk withthe splitting element andmeans whereby the movement of the pivoted beam may 'be controlled in its upwardor downwar A further object is to providemeansfor 'controlling the movement of the pivoted beam, l said means comprising rotatable gears, to whichare frictionally connected arms, which arms have their ends provided with slidable connections with the beam and driving means whereby said gears may be rotated in either direction for-raising or lowering the pivoted beam.

A further object is to mount the'beam controlling gears on 'transversely disposed shafts, which shafts are laterally movable in guides between spaced driven gears Vand to provide the shafts with gears meshing with racks and with a'hand wheel whereby the shaft gears may be easily and quickly moved into mesh with either of kthe constantly driven gears for reversing the direction'of movement of the pivoted beam.V

A further object is to provide driving rmeans whereby the carcass splitting 'element and the beam controlling and driving imechanisms are driven from a `single source of power.

A further object is lIto provide: atvopposite Y sides of the machine'vertically movable carcass engaging arms, which arms are pivotally mounted, and held in raised or lowered positions by vmeans of springs, and

means cooperating with said arms whereby i said arms are moved to operative landinoperative position until the pivotal ,points of the arms and the springs pass center, therebyallowing said springs to complete the operation. Also to provide means whereby said arms may havea gripping operation. l Y A further object is to v,provide thel pivoted beam with a counterweight forfpartially balancing the same.

A further object is to providespacedstops i adjacent the pivoted beam and-spaced lugs carried by the beam and cooperating'with the stops for limiting'the movement of the beam in l either direction andcausing. the breaking of the frictional engagement of the arms carried by the driven gears of the reversing mechanism. o

TWith the yabove-and other objects in view the invention residesinthe combination and arrangement of parts as Vhereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described 'and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scopeof what is claimed with'outdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Inthe drawing Y Figure -lis a side elevationiof thecarcass splittingmachine.

trolling and reversingmechanism, and a port-ion of the .pivoted beam, partgbeing shown in section` to better show `the structure. Y. c Figure 3 is a `rear`elevationofthe machine. i Q Figure l is. a vertical longitudinal sectional view throughthe forwardportionof Figure 2 isa Jtop plan viewrofthe coni Y the trama-showing some-.of the parts in elevation to betterashow the structure. y

vReferring tothe drawings, the numeral 1 designates 4a carriage, which carriage 1s provided with flanged wheels 2,'moun`ted on Y spaced tracks, whereby` said carriage may be moved duringthe` operation ofthe device and travel during the movement ofthe carcass 4, as'sai'd carcass is handledby a con-v veyor. Suspended beneath lthe f carriage y lk and rigidly attachedthereto is-a `platform 5, on which platform is mounted a motor 6 for driving the severing mechanismhereinafter set forth. Rotatably mounted in bearings of downwardly extending arms 7 carried by the carriage 1 is a driven shaft 8, which driven shaft is provided with a pulley 9, round which a belt lgextends. The ,belt` l0 extends around a pulley 11 of the motor 6, therefore it will be seen that during the operati'onof the motor the shaft 8 will be rotated. Pivotallyy mounted at 12 on the shaft 8 is a downwardly extending frame 13, which frame during the opera-tion Vof the device, that is the severing device, moves in the direction of the arrow a at its lower end. Rotatably mounted on a transversely disposed shaft 14 carried by the lower end of the frame 13 is a pulley 15, and` extending around said pulley substantially centrally thereof, and around a pulley 16 carried by the shaft 8 is a belt 17, which belt drives the pulleyplduring the operation of the shaft 8. Pivotally mounted at 18 on the shaft 14 is a cutter frame 19, which cutter frame is adapted to pivotally move in a vertical longitudinal plane, as well as to move rearwardly in the direction of the arrow a during a cutting operation, and which frame is preferably provided with a counterweight 2O rearwardly of its pivotal point for assisting in counterbalancing the frame. The rocking movement of 'the frame 19 on the shaft 14 may be limited if desired by the arms 21 carried by the frame 13, and which arms at the ends of the movements of the frame engage stops 22 carried by the frame.

Rotatably mounted in the outer end of the frame 19 is a saw 23, and which saw is carriedv by a shaft 24. Shaft 24 is provided with pulleys 25, and which ypulleys are driven by means of belts 26 disposed at ops posite sides of the saw, and which belts extend rearwardly` and around `the pulley 15 at opposite sides of the belt '17, therefore it will be seen that the saw l'23 is constantly rotated during the operation of the motor 6, and it will also be seen that power from the motor is carried over the pivotal point of the frame 19 to the saw, thereby allowing freedom of movement of the frame 19 without interfering Vwith the driving ofthe saw. Although a saw is shown it is obvious any i kindofa `severing element may be used.

Mounted' on a platform 27, which platform is at opposite sides of thesaw frame 26, aredriving mechanisms for pivotally moving the saw frame 26.` The` driving mechanisms comprise axially disposed shafts 28, which shafts have rotatably and frictionally mounted thereon at 29 drive gears 30, which drive gears, are adapted to be Y moved into and out of engagement with Vdrive pinions 31 and 32, which are constantly driven for driving the gears kin one direction org-inV the other direction` for raising or lowering the saw frame 26 during a carcass splitting operation.' The adjacent inner sides of the gears 30 are provided with registering radially disposed arms 33, which arms have their ends connected to a transversely disposed shaft 34, which shaft extends through elongated openings 35 in the side rails of the frame 20, therefore it will be seen that when the gears 3U are rotated in either direction, the arms 33 will rotate therewith, and will cause a swinging of the saw frame 26 in a vertical longitudinal plane for a carcass splittingoperation, at which time the saw 23 passes downwardly or upwardly according to whichdrive pinions 31 or 32 the gears 30 are in mesh with. Keyed on the shafts 28 are gears 36, which gears mesh with gear racks 37 beneath the same, and the shafts 28 are provided with guide collars 38, which are slidably mounted in guides 39, and form means whereby 'when the operator grasps the hand wheel 40, the shafts 28 with the gears 30 are accurately guided as said gears 30 are moved into engagement lwith the drive pinions 31 for rota-ting the gears 30 in one direction or into engagement with the guide pinions 32 for rotating the gears 30 in the opposite direction' or reversing the direction of movement of the pivoted frame 19. During the-rotation of the gears 30 in either direction the shaft 34 moves longitudinally into the slot 35. It will be noted that they arm 33 will move in an arc and will partially rotate during the down cutting operation and will partially rotate in the opposite direction during the return of the saw to initial position as shown in Figure 1. Drive pinions 31 and 32 are carried by shafts 41, which are rotatably mounted in bearings 42 `and have their outer ends provided with pulleys 43,

which are constantly driven by means of an endless belt 44, which-belt extends over the pulleys 43 `and an idle pulley 45, and over a pulley 46 carried by a countershaft 47, which countershaft is provided with a pulley 48, andover whichpulley 48 a belt 49 extends. The belt 49 also extends over a pulley 7 carried by the shaft 8, therefore it will be seen that all of the mechanism is driven from a single source of power.

During the operation of the device the machine. is moved over its traclrway in any y suitable manner, however it 1s preferably f` mounted attherrin-ier -e'n'ds `and'fmove in vertical langgtudinal plain-y whereby f as they are lowered to thepositicn shown in Figure l, they will move downwardly to hori'zntal positions, however the lower armsl flpreferably have a movement" fl'io'rizoiital plane for gripping or con'ipressingltheopposite sides-of the carcass. Arms() are pivotally connected at 52to thefchannels 53 and Vare provided with arms 5l,`to whichis connected a coiled spring 55, The other end of the coiled spring is anchored' at 56 tothe frame of themacliine. It will beinted that when thearm 54 passes beyond a vertical position in- 'either direction the spring 55 will move beyondthe arms to a vertical 'or' horizontal position 'according to they Tdi rection of movement of the arln. Arms 50 are 'proi'fided `with 'angularly 4disposed arms 57, which arms-*57 are in the path of lugs 5S carried by vertically'disposed "rods 59, and `which rods move upwardly and downwardly. The arms 50 arein the path ofv vertically disposed rods 60, which-are provided with lugs 161, which `engage the arms 50. It will be noted that when the rods 60 arefor'ced upwardly, the lugs `6l will engage the arms 50, raise the same until the arm 5e passes `beyond a: vertical position, and atwhich time tliesprings will pull downwardly on `the arms 54 and. move the arms'50 to vertical positions, for instance after a carcass splitting operation. Upon an upward movement of the rod 59 'the action is reversed and the arms 50 are moved to a horizontal position. The lower arms 51 operate in substantially the same manner as the upper arms 50 and the same numerals apply thereto, however in this case the arms 5l are pivotally mounted to a head 62, which head is carried at 63 by the upper end of la vertically disposed rock shaft 64. The lower end of the rock shaft 64 is provided with an arm 65, tol which is connected a link 66, which is in turn connected to an arm 67 of the lever 68, there being a slot and pin connection between 'the arm 67` and the link 66 at 69 for allowing lost motion whereby kthe arms 5l will not Vbe moved towards each other until said arms have assumed a horizontal position, that is moved towards each other for gripping opposite sides of the carcass 4. The lower ends of the rods 59 and are pivotally connected to the arms 70 of a lever 7l, which lever is pivotally mounted at 72 and has connected thereto a link 73 which link extends rearwardly and is pivotally connected to an arm 74; of a control Vlever 78, therefore it will be seen that when the lever 68 is initially moved forwardly the arms will be rocked in a manner whereby the rod 59 will be forced upwardly for moving the arms 50 and 5l to a horizontal position, and on the final movement of the lever 68 'the arms 51 will grip opposite sides ofI the carcass through 'the medium fof f the link 66 which willpartially rotate the shaft From the above it will be seen vth'at-Ja carcass splitting machine is provided, Vwhich machine isfrsimple lin construction, provided with means for gripping and-holding fa carcass whereby said machine may perform a splitting operation during the movement of lthe carcass adjacent one lvside thereof, thereby reducing the costof handling and splitting to a lminimum and Vallowing `the `conveying; operation and lsplitting operation to'befaccomplish'ed; at the same time.

The invention yhaving beenset forth what nectedto the saw frame and means for'lshifting said shiftable-gears. y

- 2. Ax carcass splitting ,machine comprising a travelling frame, a power unit'carriedzlfiy said frame, a downwardlyextending` fpivoted frame, a saw frame pivotally. connected tto the downwardly extending pivoted` yfra-mea a saw carried by tliefree end of the saw frame, driving connections for the saw-:entending over the downwardly extending pivoted frame and the saw frame and means cooperating with the saw frame whereby said saw frame is pivotally'moved in a vertical longitudinalplane downwardly and upwardly.

3. A carcass splitting machine comprising a frame, a downwardly extending pivoted frame carried by` said frame, a saw frame pivotedto the downwardlyV extending frame, a saw carried by said saw frame, driving connections extending` over the Y pivoted frame and the saw frame and shiftable gear means connected to the saw frame and forming means whereby said saw frame is oscillated in a vertical longitudinal plane.

4l. The combination with a carcass splitting machine comprising a frame, an oscillating saw frame, a sawing element carried by said saw frame, driving means for said saw, of meansl for oscillating the saw frame, said means comprising a shaft, a drive gear carried by said shaft, a link connection between the drive gear and the saw frame, drive pinions at opposite sides ofthe drive gear andmeans for shifting the shaft laterally whereby the drive gear will be moved into mesh with either of the drive pinions.

5. VThe combination with a carcass splitting machine having an oscillating saw frame rovided with a severing element, of means or oscillating said frame, said means comprising axially alined shafts, drive gears carried by said shaft, arms carried by said drive gears, said arms having slidable connections with the saw frame, drive pinions at opposite sides of the drive gears, and means whereby said drive gears can be moved into mesh with either of the drive pinions. y

6. The combination with an oscillating severing element frame of a beet1 cutting machine, of means for oscillating said frame, said means comprising axially alined shafts at opposite sides of the frame, drive gears carried by said shafts, arms carried by said drive gears, Vslidable connections between said arms and the Jtrame, guide collars on said shafts, kguides in which said collars are" slidablyV mounted, gears carried by said shafts, said gears meshing with racks and forming means whereby upon rotation of the shafts said drive gear will be moved into mesh with either of the drive pinions. 7. The combination with a carcass splitting machine having an oscillating frame provided with a severing element, of means for oscillating said frame, said means comprising shafts, drive gears carriedV by said shafts, link connections between the drive gears and the frame, drive pnions located at opposite sides Vof the drive gears, means whereby said drive shafts may be laterally moved towards and away Jfrom the drive inions and a single driving means for the drive pinions and the severing element.

'8. A carcass splitting machinecomprising a travelling frame, a power unit carried by said frame, an oscillating severing element frame, a rotating severing element, drive connections between the rotating severing carried by said arms adjacent their pivotal' points, springs connected to said members and to the frame of the machine, the pivotal points of the arms being movable through a line drawn through the ends of the springs whereby the springs will give the final movement to the arms after they reach predetermined positions, restoring arms carried by the arms, push rods, means for moving said push rods in opposite directions and lugs cooperating with said arms and restoring arms whereby said arms may be moved to positions where the springs will movel them to vvertical or horizontal positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ARTHUR H. rAXToN. 

